Pittsburgh Establishes Land Bank to Revitalize Neighborhoods, Return Distressed and Abandoned City Properties Back to Productive Use

February 16, 2018

Pittsburgh is working to finalize establishment of the Pittsburgh Land Bank, a new tool formed to facilitate the return of distressed property, land, and standing structures back to productive use through an equitable, transparent, and public process. The nonprofit entity will have the sole purpose of revitalizing neighborhoods through the acquisition of vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties, eliminating blight as it repurposes those properties to fit community needs.

The Pittsburgh Land Bank is expected to strengthen the City of Pittsburgh’s tax base, help preserve equity and neighborhood affordability, and support socially and economically diverse communities. Land is anticipated to be used for vertical development as well as increased open and green space, community gardens, stormwater management, urban farms, and more.

On December 28th, 2017, Pittsburgh City Council adopted the Pittsburgh Land Bank’s inaugural Policies & Procedures, via resolution 2017-2018. Policies & Procedures will guide how the Land Bank operates day-to-day: what it prioritizes, how it makes its decisions, and how an individual interacts with the Land Bank. Input received from a multi-year community process and recommendations made by residents and stakeholders have been incorporated into the Public Engagement Process Findings Report.

Land may be acquired through tax foreclosure, private donation, and purchase.